A Slice of Wilmington

National Autism Day: Amanda’s Angels Raise Autism Awareness

Jacquelyn Mailey works hard to raise money in support of Autism Speaks.

(Editor's Note: This article was first published in January, 2012. It is being re-published today as part of National Autism Awareness Day.) When Jennifer Tortolano and Julann Briggs opened Live Life Fitness and Wellness in January of 2011, they knew they wanted it to be a different kind of health club. From the very beginning their goal was to create a welcoming atmosphere where families could spend time and experience wellness together. Not always certain what direction that goal would take them in, Tortolano and Briggs have spent the past 12 months meeting new clients and helping them find a new style of overall wellness. Helping their clients, however, doesn’t always simply involve fitness. On Saturday, January 7, Live Life Fitness and…

• Photos (7)

Patriots Award Local Heroes With Grand Prize [VIDEO]

Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Robert Kraft were among New England Patriots who awarded Wilmington non-profit a check for $25,000 during Wednesday luncheon.

Lou Cimaglia would have been happy leaving Gillette Stadium as a third place winner during the Myra Kraft Community MVP awards luncheon. But meeting Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, being awarded the grand prize, and taking home $25,000 for Local Heroes wasn't a bad way to end the day either. The Wilmington Veteran's Agent was awarded for his work as founder of Local Heroes on Wednesday as he topped 300 applicants and 15 other finalists in the annual award given out by the New England Patriots. Joshua Kraft, son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft, read off the names of the other finalists one at at time. At first, 10 third place winners were recognized and given $2,500. Cimaglia's name wasn't called. Then one at a time, the second place winners …

•  24 Comments
• Photos (21)
• Videos (1)

Wilmington High's Matt Palermo a 'Volunteer Machine'

Graduate of the Class of 2012, who will enlist in the National Guard on Monday, is well-known volunteer in long list of groups.

Lou Cimaglia got a chance last week to see just what makes Matt Palermo so special. The Wilmington Veterans’ Agent brought Palermo to the Military Friends Foundation’s Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner at the Hampshire House. Palermo, a senior who graduated on Sunday with the Class of 2012, had the opportunity to meet Colman Nee, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Services, and retired Brigadier General Thomas Sellars. With the evening’s event wrapped up, Cimaglia figured it was time to hit the road back to Wilmington. But Palermo had one more stop to make. He wanted to talk to the people in charge of the Military Friends Foundation to find out just what he could do to help. “That’s the kind of kid he is,” said Cimaglia, who got to …

•  38 Comments
• Photos (4)

Injured Wilmington Veteran Finds Unexpected Support

Craig Sullivan said he believes fate brought him to a friendship with fellow veteran Adam Smith and to support from a Wakefield couple whose veteran son took his own life.

Craig Sullivan, Adam Smith and Dave and Barbara Hoffman come from different walks of life, but they have one thing in common. They firmly believe in fate. Sullivan, a young Wilmington veteran who was seriously injured during duty in Iraq, met Smith, a Marine from Amesbury, when each was at the VA Clinic for their respective check up. After some conversation, it became clear to both how their friendship was meant to be. Sullivan told Smith his story, and lifted his shirt to reveal a large tattoo honoring two fallen soldiers that he served with who lost their lives on August 16, 2006. When Smith saw his fellow Marine’s touching tribute, his jaw nearly hit the floor. The date of August 16 is a familiar one for Smith. It’s his birthday. “We …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (8)

Foghorn Leghorn

7:28 pm on Friday, May 25, 2012

WOW, What a,, I say,, What a story   more ›

Wilmington Senior Honored for Winning PSA [VIDEO]

Zack Frost receives prize package at Wednesday assembly for winning "Dance. Don't Chance." entry.

By the time he left the Wilmington High School auditorium, Zack Frost had his hands full. The senior was handed a variety of prizes during an assembly honoring him as the winner of "Dance. Don't Chance," sponsored by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security's Highway Safety Division. Among the prizes Frost earned for his video about making safe decisions when getting behind the wheel are a limousine ride to prom, five corsages for the dance, and a free DJ from JAM'N 94.5 FM for the school's senior prom. This story was chosen for the Huffington Post's Greatest Person of the Day segment on April 27, 2012.

• Photos (9)
• Videos (2)

Local Officer Honors Fallen Friend With Donation

Wilmington Police Officer Matt Stavro undergoes bone marrow procedure while remembering Officer Shawn Lee, who died of leukemia in 2011.

When Matt Stavro drove by Wilmington High School’s bone marrow registry in 1999 and decided to add his name to the list, he never could have predicted just how close to home the subject would hit. More than a decade later, right around the time that Stavro’s close friend and fellow Wilmington Police Officer Shawn Lee was losing his battle with leukemia, Stavro received a call that he was a match for a 59-year-old male who was struggling with a condition previously known as pre-leukemia. On Wednesday, Stavro is scheduled to transfer his bone marrow to the man in a procedure that could save the man's life. “It meant more to me because I wish I could have done something like that for Shawn,” said Stavro. “Because of my experiences with Shawn…

•  3 Comments
• Photos (2)

VIDEO: Woodbriar Resident Turns 109 Years Young

Marie Kelly remains in good health and spirits as she celebrates another milestone birthday at Wilmington nursing home.

Woodbriar of Wilmington resident Marie Kelly was in a singing mood on Thursday. The nursing home held a birthday celebration for Kelly, who turned 109 years young on the day. Kelly's sons, Jack and Neal, were in attendance along with Jack's wife, Mimi, as residents enjoyed cake in honor of the big day. In addition, one of the Woodbriar residents played piano and Kelly sang along with the music as she enjoyed her slice of cake. "Even 100 is great, but when you get up to 109, it's unique," said Neal. "How many people even think of getting that high? It really is something special. It's great for the community, great for her, and great for the family."

•  3 Comments
• Photos (7)
• Videos (1)

DBC

5:47 pm on Sunday, March 25, 2012

What a beautiful photograph of Jack, Marie, Neal and Mimi Kelly; Happy 109th and still glowing, Marie! God bless you and keep you in the palm of His Hand.   more ›

VIDEO: Local Heroes Hits Milestone

On Wednesday night, the Wilmington non-profit prepared its 15,000th care package for troops overseas.

There were mountains of snacks, toiletries, and other items stacked on tables inside Knights of Columbus Hall on Wednesday night. Then, within minutes, everything vanished. It’s safe to say the volunteers with Local Heroes have packing down to a science. During the latest weekly meeting of the non-profit organization, Local Heroes put together 45 care packages to send to troops serving overseas. The 15th box sealed served as a milestone, the 15,000th Local Heroes has packaged since it was established in 2004. For more information on Local Heroes, visit the group's website or contact Veterans' Agent Lou Cimaglia.

• Videos (1)